boost
Americanverb (used with object)
-
boosts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
boosted,
past participle, past
-
boosting
present participle
-
to lift or raise by pushing from behind or below.
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to advance or aid by speaking well of; promote.
She always boosts her hometown.
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to boost prices;
to boost the horsepower of the car by 20 percent.
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to administer a booster shot to.
Have you and your family been boosted yet?
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Slang. to steal, especially to shoplift.
Two computers were boosted from the office last night.
verb (used without object)
-
boosts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
boosted,
past participle, past
-
boosting
present participle
noun
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encouragement, improvement, or help
a boost to morale
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an upward thrust or push
he gave him a boost over the wall
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an increase or rise
a boost in salary
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a publicity campaign; promotion
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the amount by which the induction pressure of a supercharged internal-combustion engine exceeds that of the ambient pressure
verb
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to encourage, assist, or improve
to boost morale
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to lift by giving a push from below or behind
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to increase or raise
to boost the voltage in an electrical circuit
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to cause to rise; increase
to boost sales
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to advertise on a big scale
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to increase the induction pressure of (an internal-combustion engine) above that of the ambient pressure; supercharge
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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boostsimple
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boostssimple
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have boostedperfect
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has boostedperfect
-
am boostingprogressive
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are boostingprogressive
-
is boostingprogressive
-
have been boostingperfect progressive
-
has been boostingperfect progressive
Past
-
boostedsimple
-
had boostedperfect
-
was boostingprogressive
-
were boostingprogressive
-
had been boostingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of boost
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; perhaps Scots dialect boose (variant of pouss push ) + (hoi)st
Explanation
Think of the word boost as meaning "help up." Maybe you need a boost getting over a fence (hmm — are you sneaking in or sneaking out?), or maybe you are feeling low and need to boost your spirits — chocolate, anyone? Sometimes words appear that really don't have any clear origins. Boost is one of those words, but it's a fun word, and it's thought that maybe it has some connection to boose, a Scots dialect word that carries the idea of a push. A slang meaning of the word is to sneakily steal, like shoplifting. You gave your cousin a boost into the window, not knowing he was planning on boosting some sneakers.
Vocabulary lists containing boost
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 2
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Higher Learning: Synonyms For "Up"
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"Laws are not the only way to boost immunization”: an editorial from Nature
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But rest assured, I have not forgotten about the boost I promised.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Warmth could last all week for some in England and Wales, but it might only be a short-lived boost for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
When it reaches the surface, the chemical potential is converted into kinetic energy, giving the muonium atom a boost that sends it vertically upward.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
Jana earlier this year built a stake in Fiserv and pushed for changes to boost the payments company’s underperforming stock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
“I paid, like, twenty-eight dollars for this stupid cream that was supposed to boost my radiance. What did I get for it? A four-dimensional zit!”
From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead
Micron stock rises as Oracle’s cloud infrastructure sales growth boosts the AI trade.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
The squeeze could become more acute if colder weather boosts Asian heating demand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
"By changing the land to suit their needs, they can change it in such a way that boosts biodiversity and increases resilience in terms of climate change," Bowen added.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Addressing their basic needs by offering a host of services to all students and families — nearly 93% of children come from low-income households — is a priority that boosts attendance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
“What happens to her when Mr. Curtain boosts the power all the way? She’s already hearing voices, you know!”
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
Over the summer, Kang boosted the Women's Super League side with significant investment in players, including the signing of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
In recent earnings statements, BGC said that the Iran shock boosted a business that was already performing strongly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
Mengers, who has stores in Cobham and south-west London, said she boosted security after a raid in January 2025 involving men with wire cutters.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Auto dealers sold more cars and higher energy prices boosted receipts at gas stations, but sales were just as strong even if those two segments are excluded.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
It had occurred to him to wonder what would happen to her when Mr. Curtain boosted the signal power all the way.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
The pair were expected to discuss a further strengthening of ties including boosting trade, security and working with the European Union.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
"The scheme increased footfall for businesses in these sectors over the summer, getting more people through the door and boosting local economies".
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
So, arbitrarily boosting testosterone is not good for young men without deficiencies.
From Slate ● Sep. 13, 2026
Fast-food chains are boosting employee training and giving priority to customer service after finding that digital kiosks and apps turned off some diners.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Scragg—he’d been an enormous help, boosting and encouraging the others, even organizing the lifting up of the plank.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
